Zoldan's horse qualifies for Kentucky Derby

Bruce Zoldan, owner of Phantom Fireworks and the Mahoning Valley Phantoms, is also an owner in another arena: horse racing.

Partnering with Team Valor and Vision Racing, their colt, Visionaire, has qualified and will run in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 3.

Visionaire is trained by Michael R. Matz - the trainer of Barbaro - and will be ridden by jockey Jose Lezcano.

“Michael Matz has said that he is very happy with the conditioning and attitude of the colt, and that Visionaire is in prime condition for the race,” Zoldan said.

On Tuesday, Visionaire began running four furlongs at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., before running five furlongs next week. Late next week, the colt heads to Churchill Downs in preparation for the 134th Running of the Roses less than two weeks from now. The Kentucky Derby is a one-and-a-quarter-mile race.

Visionaire has a race record of 6-3-1-1 and has earned over $200,000 to date. Most recently, the 3-year-old colt was gaining on his competition in the late stages of a fifth-place finish at the Toyota Blue Grass stakes on April 12. Visionaire has three wins since November and a third-place showing back on February 9.